Ask the Dog Trainer: Toys are essential for a dog's mental health

VERO BEACH - Does your dog love toys? One of my dogs is enamored with plush toys. Tearing the squeaker out is a favorite pastime. He likes balls and Frisbees too. My old dog use to love to tug. She could catch a Frisbee in mid-air. My middle dog isn't much of a toy dog at all. But he will occasionally try to ingest a plush toy, not a recommended activity. My point is dogs need toys and each dog is different.

I see toys in three categories -- plush/squeaky toys, food dispensing toys and edible toys. Each category has different benefits for you and your dog.

Squeaky toys are appealing to many dogs. You can throw the toy for them or play some tug for interactive fun. I have many plush toys scattered around the house in various states of decay. Some of these toys last years, some only a few minutes. I like to have a lot of toys available so I can play with my dogs at a moment's notice. A quick tug and toss will help give them something to do while I'm working. They will sometimes toss the toys for themselves. That's even better!

Once I give a toy to my dog, it's their toy. I don't care what they do with it. I would rather they tear up a squeaky toy than a pillow, or my sofa or my shoes. If your dog is a toy destroyer, get lots of toys. Go cheap, the dollar store is fine. Again, if your dog rips up toys, he is telling you he needs something to do with his teeth. Toys are a good option.

Do be careful about your dog consuming any of these toys. Be they plush, rubber or latex, they can cause intestinal obstructions. If your dog likes to eat his toys, supervise him or give him something edible and digestible.

I view balls and Frisbees in this category too. Those are toys that are fun when someone is playing with the dog. I know some dogs will play with balls by themselves. But generally balls and Frisbees are more fun if someone is throwing them.

One other note about soft toys -- I often see some advertised as indestructible. Don't believe it! I hear stories every day about dogs destroying the unchewables. I rarely spend more than $5 for a toy. They all end up flat, de-squeaked and de-fluffed! More on toys next week.

Cissy Sumner of Best Behavior Dog Training is Vero's first Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed and Certified Behavior Counselor Canine-Knowledge Assessed as well as a Consulting Trainer and Behavior Counselor for the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County. If you have a training or behavior question, email Cissy at bbdogtraining@bellsouth.net or visit http://www.bestbehaviordogtraining.org for additional information.

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